DARPA has successfully completed its Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Continuous Trail Unmanned Vessel (ACTUV) program and has officially transferred the technology demonstration vessel, christened Sea Hunter, to the Office of Naval Research (ONR). ONR will continue developing the revolutionary prototype vehicle—the first of what could ultimately become an entirely new class of ocean-going vessel able to traverse thousands of kilometers over open seas for months at a time, without a single crew member aboard—as the Medium Displacement Unmanned Surface Vehicle (MDUSV).

Australia’s sovereign submarine company ASC today signed a collaboration agreement with leading international engineering consultancy BMT to meet increasing demand for ASC’s submarine platform expertise and experience.

BAE Systems will produce and deliver Bofors 40 Mk4 Naval Guns for the Finnish Navy and its Hamina Class Squadron 2000 fast attack craft, under a contract with Patria, the prime contractor for the vessel’s mid-life upgrade and overhaul program.

The United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) continues fulfilling the contract with the Russian Defense Ministry to upgrade antisubmarine warfare Il-38 aircraft. They are operational in the Russian naval aviation. The Ilyushin Company is extending the life cycle of remaining aircraft and equipping them with modern onboard complexes. The aircraft are engaged both in defense and rescue operations. In the meantime, the Russian Navy plans to order a new-generation antisubmarine patrol aircraft. Its design for the naval aviation is nearing completion, the UAC said.

Davie Shipbuilding and Federal Fleet Services announced that following an intensive period of at-sea trials and testing, Asterix has been formally accepted by the Department of National Defence and has now entered full operational service with the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) and Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF).

Our partner East Pendulum is reporting that a 3rd Type 901 replenishment oiler has been spotted (via satellite imagery) at the Guangzhou Shipyard International Company Limited (GSI), Guangdong province in southern China.

While underway for Independent Steaming Exercise Five, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) completed 401 catapults and arrestments, bringing the total to date to 747. On the final day, Jan. 19, the Ford and Carrier Air Wing 8 team completed 135 traps.

Guto Bebb MP, the recently appointed UK Minister for Defence Procurement, visited BAE Systems’ Clyde shipyards and witnessed progress on the Type 26 programme as production started on the second hull section of GLASGOW, the first of the City Class frigates.

The Belgian government (Council of Ministers, following a proposal from Defense Minister Vandeput) agreed today to launch a public procurement procedure for the replacement and initial support of the Belgian Navy (Marinecomponent/Composante) and the Royal Netherlands Navy (Koninklijke Marine) fleets of mine countermeasure vessels (MCMV).

The official media of South Korea's military is reporting that the last Gumdoksuri-class fast patrol ship was commissioned with the Republic of Korea Navy (ROK Navy) on January 11, 2018. Jeon Byeongik (전병익) is the final of 18 PKG (or PKX-A) class patrol vessels.

The first Short Take-Off/Vertical Landing (STOVL) F-35B Lightning II aircraft, assembled outside the United States, was delivered to the Italian Ministry of Defense and assigned to the Italian Navy at the Final Assembly and Check Out (FACO) facility in Cameri yesterday.

Guto Bebb MP, the recently appointed UK Minister for Defence Procurement, visited BAE Systems’ Clyde shipyards today to announce the formal acceptance of the first River Class Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) by the Ministry of Defence and witness progress on the Type 26 programme as production started on the second hull section of GLASGOW, the first of the City Class frigates.

Orbital ATK, a global leader in aerospace and defense technologies, was awarded a developmental contract by the U.S. Navy for the Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile-Extended Range (AARGM-ER) upgrade. The contract will mature the AARGM-ER configuration resulting in a preliminary design prior to entry into the Engineering and Manufacturing Development phase.